Build - Pedal Project: Blackout Fuzz
The Blackout Fuzz is a stripboard layout for an NPN fuzz using as many black pedal parts as possible. This layout includes an LED but otherwise stays true to the classic fuzz circuit. The NPN layout allows for use with a basic 9V pedal power supply and can be daisy chained with other standard pedals. The parts selected are high-end with an emphasis on quality and the blackout appearance of the pedal.
Figure 1: Strip board layout of the Blackout Fuzz.
See Figure 3 in our Guitar Pedal Footswitch and Jack Wiring article for the recommended footswitch and I/O wiring.
Figure 2: Blackout Fuzz Schematic
Parts List
Potentiometers | ||
| 1 kΩ Linear | R-VTOCOS-1KL | Tocos was used on this build but Alpha or CTS are also great choices |
| 500 kΩ Audio | R-VTOCOS-500KA | Tocos was used on this build but Alpha or CTS are also great choices |
Transistors | ||
| Q1 & Q2 | P-Q2N169 | 2N169 germanium transistors were used in this build but many NPN transistors (including silicon) will also work well |
Capacitors | ||
| 10 nF (.01 µF) | C-FSD01-1000 | A Solen cap was used in this build but most 10nF caps will work well. |
| 2 µF | C-SA2-50 | A Sprague cap was used in this build but any 2 to 2.2 µF electrolytic cap will also work well. |
| 20 µF | C-SA25-25 | A Sprague cap was used in this build but any 20 to 25 µF electrolytic cap will also work well. |
Resistors | ||
| 470 Ω | R-I470 | 1/2W carbon comps were used on this build but 1/4W or 1/2W carbon film or metal film are also great choices |
| R LED | R-I470 | 470Ω was used in this build along with P-L352. Use an appropriate value for the LED if using something different. |
| 8.2 kΩ | R-I8D2K | This is the collector resistor for Q2. Use an appropriate value for your Q2 transistor. 8.2KΩ is used in the original fuzz circuit. |
| 33 kΩ | R-I33K | This is the collector resistor for Q1. Use an appropriate value for your Q1 transistor. 33KΩ is used in the original fuzz circuit. |
| 100 kΩ | R-I100K | |
Other Items | ||
| Stripboard | P-PC-STD15-1-BLK | Black stripboard with vintage spacing |
| 3PDT Footswitch | P-H501-L-BLK | A soft click switch with a black actuator |
| Footswitch Dress Nuts | P-H52-NUT-DRESSBK | Black metal 15/32-32UNS dress nut |
| Knobs | P-ECB-229 | Dunlop Fuzz Face knobs |
| DC Jack | P-JBLB-IN-S | Lumberg switched DC jack |
| Jacks | S-H901-S | Cliff panel mount jacks |
| Jack Nuts | S-H961 | All black nut/washer combos for Cliff jacks |
| Wire | S-W902B | Gavitt 22 AWG top coat cloth wire |
| LED Lens | P-L710-CLR | Panel mount LED lens |
| LED | P-L352 | 5mm diffused red LED |
| Pot Shaft Adapters | R-VADAPT-25 | 6mm to 6.35mm potentiometer shaft adapters |
| Battery Clip | K-P155 | 9V battery snap |
| Battery Insulator | S-M560 | Fibroid "fish paper" |
| PCB Standoffs | S-H190-8 | Adhesive backed standoffs for mounting the board. |
| Hammond 1590BB | P-H1590BBBK | Any 1590BB will work well. |
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